I admit that I was very upset about what was said about my partner Maggie, as it was just not true. Perhaps the bar staff were using her as an excuse to get the kids out, but at no time did she even suggest that they move out. As I said before, we moved downstairs because that's where we play and sing, and there was no room upstairs for our regular session people.

The children were very well-behaved, although they might have made more room to allow for people who only play sitting down. The real problem was that the upstairs room was too small. When we moved downstairs we intended that the upstairs room could continue as a sort of creche.

The problem was that this wasn't a Shanty Festival event, only an extra evening pub session relocated to the Black Boy so that it was easier to get to, and so that people could also see Punch the Horse. The official Shanty Festival event at the White Hart did not accomodate children at all.

I hope that the children did enjoy the rest of the Shanty Festival, and that we see them all again.